Charpentiera

Charpentiera is a flowering plant genus in the family Amaranthaceae. It consists of five species endemic to Hawaii, where they are known as pāpala, and one species found only on the island of Tubuai in the Austral Islands. All species are trees, some reaching more than in height. The genus is named for Arsène Charpentier (1781-1818), professor of pharmacy at Antwerp from 1810 to 1814 and at Cherbourg from 1814 to 1816.

Species

• Charpentiera australis <small>Sohmer</small> (Rarotonga in the Cook Islands and Tubuai and Raivavae in the Tubuai Islands)
• Charpentiera densiflora <small>Sohmer</small> (Kauai)
• Charpentiera elliptica <small>(Hillebr.) A.Heller</small> (Kauai)
• Charpentiera obovata <small>Gaudich.</small> (main islands of Hawaii)
• Charpentiera ovata <small>Gaudich.</small> (Oahu, Molokai, Maui, island of Hawaii)
• Charpentiera tomentosa <small>Sohmer</small>
• Charpentiera tomentosa var. maakuaensis (Oahu)
• Charpentiera tomentosa var. tomentosa (Oahu, Molokai, Lānai, Maui, island of Hawaii)

Uses

Native Hawaiians on the northwest coast of the island of Kauai used lightweight pāpala branches in the art of ōahi. Branches were ignited and tossed off of high sea cliffs, where they were buoyed by ridge lifts and burned like fireworks.

References